Pietersen eyes new role

LONDON: Kevin Pietersen said yesterday he was looking forward to sharing the benefits of his experience with international stars of the future now his own England career had been terminated.

“It is good to come to the end of an international career and help others who are the start of an international career,” Pietersen told kiaoval.com.

“I won’t be forceful in my knowledge. But I’ve got experience in training, the mental preparation that goes in to making you successful -- which I’ve nailed well.

“So it’s a case of handing over that knowledge, if someone wants it.”

The 33-year-old batsman was sensationally axed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in February following the team’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia.

That was despite South Africa-born Pietersen being England’s leading run-scorer across all formats and their top contributor with the bat during the Ashes debacle too. Although he has re-signed with Surrey to play in all formats for the Oval-based county, Pietersen’s immediate future is as a Twenty20 ‘gun for hire’, initially with the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

Pietersen also plans to take part in both English domestic T20 with Surrey and the Caribbean Premier League equivalent for an as yet to be decided franchise, even though the two tournaments overlap. REUTERS